Two employees at the senior building at 591 Montgomery, who didn't want to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media, said that the water pressure is returning slowly but surely to the building.

They added that the residents on the top floors of the building should have water back at full pressure some time between noon and 1 p.m. today.

United Water spokesman Steve Goudsmith said that the water main was repaired last night and reopened for the residents in the area that had been affected. But the workers at the senior building said it has taken some time for the pressure to build.

"The tenants on the lower floors have their water back," one of the workers said. "Everything should be fine soon."

Ardest Gilmore, 60, who lives on the 11th floorm, said he is still waiting for the water to come on.

"I can't flush the toilet, I can wash dishes, I can't cook," he said this morning. "They told the water was back -- but I don't see it."

The 24-inch main ruptured yesterday behind one of the old Jersey City Medical Center buildings when a truck involved in a construction project there struck a fire hydrant, officials said.